Politics · Sri Lanka Bureau
Universities must remain apolitical centres of learning, Goonesekere urges
A senior academic has called for universities to safeguard their independence from political interference and maintain their core commitment to intellectual freedom. The warning came during remarks at the launch of a new legal education trust.
LSN Sri Lanka ·
Professor Savitri Goonesekere, former Vice-Chancellor and emeritus Professor of Law at the University of Colombo, has emphasised that higher education institutions must resist politicisation and uphold their fundamental academic values.
Speaking at the establishment of the Prof. G.L. Peiris Trust for Legal Education and Research, Goonesekere stressed that universities bear a vital responsibility to foster freedom of thought and expression as core institutional values.
The academic underscored the importance of cultivating respect for diverse viewpoints and intellectual tolerance within university environments. She argued that these principles are essential to the proper functioning of centres of learning and critical to producing graduates capable of engaging constructively in society.
The remarks reflect ongoing concerns about maintaining academic autonomy within Sri Lanka's higher education sector. Goonesekere's intervention comes as universities nationwide navigate pressures that threaten institutional independence and scholarly integrity.
The establishment of the Prof. G.L. Peiris Trust aims to advance legal education and research within the country, building on the legacy of the distinguished jurist and former university leader.